course.” I stroke my goatee with my hand. “When I walked in, it sort of floored me. It was a bit overwhelming to take it all in. It’s definitely impressive. When I saw the sign with “Braxton’s” lit up, it made my heart fucking happy. After the initial smack of it all calmed, I had to laugh to myself wondering if you could possibly get that sign any bigger.” I burst out laughing. “The overall of everything, hmmm…I’m truly impressed at what you’ve become and created here for yourself, Brax, and I’m fucking proud of you. You’ve built something incredible and amazing here.”
The most beautiful smile in the world, the one that only belongs to him, spreads across his face. “Yeah?”
“Yes.” I look down, a little embarrassed that I just thought that and got sappy telling him my thoughts on the place. I look back up. “You did well. I always knew you’d grow up and do great things in your life, Braxton.”
He nods his head slowly. “Thank you. That means a lot coming from you, I mean it. Now answer this. Out of all the places in Houston to go, how did you happen to stumble through my doors?” He’s got his eyebrow arched in that daring and challenging way he used back in the day. It’s one of those cocky ‘don’t fuck with me’ looks. I’m busted, he knows I didn’t accidentally do anything.
I raise my glass trying to think of how I should answer this. I can’t exactly tell him I’m stalking his second in command manager, so I need to figure out something else. Sometimes the ‘almost’ truth works best. Thank goodness Sparky comes back over and Brax sends him after a drink for himself. I take a sip of mine and finally answer him.
“Honestly?” Reverse tactic move.
“Always.” He folds his arms over his chest in a classic shut down and defense mode. He’s ready to nail me if I lie and I know it .
“I’m looking for Aaron. I heard that I might be able to find him around here.”
“Interesting.” Sparks puts a martini on the table in front of him and leaves. Not once did Brax break eye contact with me or move. He sits so still it’s scary and he looks angry. “Payce, the last time that I saw Aaron, was the day we were all at the warehouse together, the day before you got...you went away. I always figured that you and Aaron disappearing at the same time was by no accident.”
“Hmmm…that is interesting, very interesting, but I wouldn’t know anything about it.” I’m a little pissed at Aaron now for my own personal reasons. It means Aaron kept the money I gave him before being arrested and he never gave a thought about Brax. Guess I should have seen that one coming when I wasn’t around.
“What do you want with him, why you are looking for him now?” He takes a sip of his drink and leans back against the chair again.
“Same old, same old. You know Aaron, always in the middle of some goddamned drama.” I wrap my hand back around the glass.
“Your drama?” He locks his fingers together, resting his hands on the table . My God, he’s intense and a lot cockier than he used to be, straight to the point and blunt.
“No, it’s for someone I know. A friend.” I rest my chin on top of my knuckles.
“Well, I suppose that’s a plus.” He reaches for my business card still lying on the table. “Yours?” He glances at it pretending to read, but he’s really not. “I’ll hang on to this, and if I happen to come across anything, I’ll give you a ring.” He tucks my card in his shirt pocket.
“Thank you, I’d appreciate that.” I smirk. “Well, I suppose I’ve kept you from work long enough, I should be heading out.”
“I’ll walk down with you,” Braxton says.
We both stand, I toss a twenty on the table for Sparks, and Brax waves his arm in front of him, suggesting I lead the way. I do and he follows behind me, making sure I get outside of his place.
There’s a few seconds of awkward silence once we’re outside. He pulls out a pack of
The most beautiful smile in the world, the one that only belongs to him, spreads across his face. “Yeah?”
“Yes.” I look down, a little embarrassed that I just thought that and got sappy telling him my thoughts on the place. I look back up. “You did well. I always knew you’d grow up and do great things in your life, Braxton.”
He nods his head slowly. “Thank you. That means a lot coming from you, I mean it. Now answer this. Out of all the places in Houston to go, how did you happen to stumble through my doors?” He’s got his eyebrow arched in that daring and challenging way he used back in the day. It’s one of those cocky ‘don’t fuck with me’ looks. I’m busted, he knows I didn’t accidentally do anything.
I raise my glass trying to think of how I should answer this. I can’t exactly tell him I’m stalking his second in command manager, so I need to figure out something else. Sometimes the ‘almost’ truth works best. Thank goodness Sparky comes back over and Brax sends him after a drink for himself. I take a sip of mine and finally answer him.
“Honestly?” Reverse tactic move.
“Always.” He folds his arms over his chest in a classic shut down and defense mode. He’s ready to nail me if I lie and I know it .
“I’m looking for Aaron. I heard that I might be able to find him around here.”
“Interesting.” Sparks puts a martini on the table in front of him and leaves. Not once did Brax break eye contact with me or move. He sits so still it’s scary and he looks angry. “Payce, the last time that I saw Aaron, was the day we were all at the warehouse together, the day before you got...you went away. I always figured that you and Aaron disappearing at the same time was by no accident.”
“Hmmm…that is interesting, very interesting, but I wouldn’t know anything about it.” I’m a little pissed at Aaron now for my own personal reasons. It means Aaron kept the money I gave him before being arrested and he never gave a thought about Brax. Guess I should have seen that one coming when I wasn’t around.
“What do you want with him, why you are looking for him now?” He takes a sip of his drink and leans back against the chair again.
“Same old, same old. You know Aaron, always in the middle of some goddamned drama.” I wrap my hand back around the glass.
“Your drama?” He locks his fingers together, resting his hands on the table . My God, he’s intense and a lot cockier than he used to be, straight to the point and blunt.
“No, it’s for someone I know. A friend.” I rest my chin on top of my knuckles.
“Well, I suppose that’s a plus.” He reaches for my business card still lying on the table. “Yours?” He glances at it pretending to read, but he’s really not. “I’ll hang on to this, and if I happen to come across anything, I’ll give you a ring.” He tucks my card in his shirt pocket.
“Thank you, I’d appreciate that.” I smirk. “Well, I suppose I’ve kept you from work long enough, I should be heading out.”
“I’ll walk down with you,” Braxton says.
We both stand, I toss a twenty on the table for Sparks, and Brax waves his arm in front of him, suggesting I lead the way. I do and he follows behind me, making sure I get outside of his place.
There’s a few seconds of awkward silence once we’re outside. He pulls out a pack of
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